Manufacturers of the smallest business jets and turboprops will be required to conduct function and reliability (F&R) certification tests on new aircraft designs under new rules released last week. FAA on Oct. 18 issued a final rule formally requiring F&R tests for certification of all Part 23 turbine-powered aircraft weighing 6,000 lbs. or more. The tests have long been required for larger turbine aircraft.
Avidyne has added “multi-touch” functionality to its IFD540 touch-screen navigation/communication unit. The avionics maker says multi-touch enables pilots to use just two fingers to “pinch zoom” and scroll, making the system easier to use. Multi-touch is one of the several additional capabilities that the company says it will unveil in the coming months. The IFD540 is a slide-in replacement for the popular GNS530 navigators.
The entry of new aircraft, such as Gulfstream’s G650, is placing the industry on a solid footing to emerge from the downcycle, but continuing economic uncertainties cloud the immediate future, analysts attending the recent National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention believe.
JOHN LANGEVIN was promoted to vice president and general manager, fixed-base operations (FBOs), North America for Jet Aviation. In this role, Langevin will manage all of Jet Aviation’s U.S. FBOs, including Teterboro, N.J.; Boston/Bedford, Mass.; Palm Beach, Fla.; St. Louis and Dallas. He has more than 30 years of experience, joining Jet Aviation in 1981 and holding positions of increasing responsibility. In 2005 he was appointed general manager of Jet Aviation Teterboro.
ZANE COX has joined Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) as technical advisor. Cox has more than 25 years of aviation experience, including the past 10 with Rolls-Royce in Tucson, Ariz. There, he was regional customer service manager, supporting corporate operators at service centers throughout the West Coast.
COMMANDER 112, 112B, 112TC, 112TCA, 114, 114A, 114B and 114TC airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1128; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-031-AD] – This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the elevator spar for cracks. If any cracks were found, operators would need to either replace the elevator spar with a serviceable one or repair/modify the spar with an FAA-approved procedure.
A J Walter Aviation, the aircraft parts supplier, is expanding into business aircraft spares support. In partnership with its business aircraft sales and acquisition broker, Loudoun Aviation, AJW has extended its commercial spare parts and power-by-the-hour programs to owners/operators of corporate Boeing and Airbus aircraft, primarily for the BBJ and ACJ, but also corporate conversions of commercial airliners.
Jetnet’s new quarterly business aviation index, the iQ Fly/Buy Index, indicates the market for aircraft operations and purchases improved in the past two quarters. The iQ Fly/Buy Index is a composite measure of expected flight activity and new aircraft orders over the next 12 months. Based on responses to Jetnet iQ’s Global Business Aviation Surveys, the iQ Fly/Buy Index was established at a value of 100 based on market conditions at the beginning of this year. The index in the second quarter was 113.6.
BRIAN THOMPSON , formerly president of Vector Aerospace Engine Services-Atlantic, has taken the position of senior vice president-global engine services for the company (VAESA). In his new role, he will be responsible for fixed-wing engine sales coordination and operational integration. Thompson joined VAESA in 2006 as president.
ED BAILLIF has joined Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) as product line specialist. Baillif previously spent 15 years with Rolls-Royce in a variety of technical positions. He is a former jet engine mechanic for the U.S. Air Force, and received his airframe and powerplant license from the Teterboro School of Aeronautics, where he spent four years teaching jet engine theory.
Jet Aviation Hong Kong recently won approval from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) to perform line maintenance on the Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy/LX. It also received European Aviation Safety Agency Part 145 approval for line and base maintenance on the Bombardier Global Express, Bombardier Challenger 601, Gulfstream G-V SP and Dassault Falcon 7X, F900EX EASy and F2000EX EASy.
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt participated in the groundbreaking Oct. 18 of a new FAA control tower and Tracon at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The $69 million project will replace a radar facility and tower that dates to the 1980s. Babbitt says the 324-ft. tower will improve the line of sight for controllers, who will be using next-generation air traffic control equipment.
The ongoing economic malaise in the business aviation market is imperiling Piper Aircraft’s single-jet program, the PiperJet Altaire, and consequently helped spur a management shakeup at the top.
Blackhawk has delivered the first customer Caravan XP42A and work is under way on the next several conversions, says CEO and President Jim Allmon. The FAA- and EASA-certified upgrade comes with a new-engine warranty from Pratt & Whitney, a pre-paid year of the Trend Group Turbine Trend Analysis program and free CAMP maintenance tracking for the first year. Certification of the Caravan XP42A by Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency is imminent.
THIELERT AIRCRAFT ENGINES TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0956; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-23-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain friction disks with newly designed disks. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is designed to prevent inflight shutdown of the engine and consequent loss of control of the airplane. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 206 engines installed on airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
The used aircraft inventory of in-production models climbed slightly for heavy and medium-sized types in September, but so did average asking price, at least month over month, says J.P. Morgan. Heavy jet inventories were up 0.2% and medium jet inventories increased 0.1%, while light jets remained flat. The overall in-production model inventory reached 10.6%, says J.P. Morgan. Increases were reported with Gulfstream, Embraer, Hawker Beechcraft and Cessna aircraft, while Dassault fell and Bombardier remained flat.
LORI THOMAS was appointed charter sales manager for Jet Aviation Van Nuys. Thomas joins Jet Aviation with extensive experience, previously serving with The Air Group, XOJet and Avjet Corp. She reports to Jon Winthrop, vice president and managing director of the Van Nuys operation, the former chairman and CEO of The Air Group.
Honda Aircraft will build a new HondaJet maintenance, repair and overhaul facility near its Greensboro, N.C., headquarters at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Construction of the $20 million facility is expected to begin in the second quarter of next year, CEO Michimasa Fujino says. The company expects construction to be completed by the first half of 2013. The building will feature 80,000 sq. ft. of space, including a hangar, a workshop and customer support facilities, and is designed to provide heavy maintenance and overhaul, Fujino says.
Dave Whitten was appointed senior vice president, strategy and marketing for Nordam. Whitten will identify, evaluate and pursue new deals and acquisitions. He has led global marketing for Nordam since 2005. Before that, he served with Goodrich for nine years in aerospace marketing, sales, strategy and demand management.
A new survey on the brand reputation of business aviation original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from aviation information consultancy Jetnet LLC was released at last week’s National Business Aviation Association convention. Respondents in the third quarter of 2011 indicated that Gulfstream is the overall business aircraft brand leader, scoring 8.6 on a 1-10 scale, the survey says. “Owners and operators of Gulfstream aircraft are more likely to rate their brand as number one across various brand elements than any other respondent group,” it says.
Business aircraft activity in September was down 4.4% overall from August 2011, according to Argus TRAQPak data. All operational categories posted a negative month, with the fractional market showing the steepest decline, down 7.3%. Part 135 activity slid 6.1%, followed by Part 91, down 2.7%.
The Transportation Security Administration is inching closer to the release of the revised Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposal, but Doug Hofsass, TSA deputy assistant administrator for transportation sector network management, told attendees at last week’s NBAA convention that LASP will have a new name. TSA would like to release the new proposal for comment by the end of the year, and Hofsass promises the revised program will make more sense than the previous proposal. The original proposal drew 8,000 comments – all in opposition, Hofsass says.
The T-6 Texan II advanced trainer, AT-6 light air support aircraft and intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance versions of its King Air models are some of the most profitable parts of Hawker Beechcraft Corp.’s business. “We’re not selling it. We’re pleased with the diversification, and it gives us sustaining revenues in a bad time,” Bill Boisture, company chairman and CEO, told Aviation Week at the recent National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention.
ECLIPSE AEROSPACE EA500 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0199; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-005-AD] – This proposed AD, a revision of an existing directive (AD 2011-06-06) that applies to EA500s equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F-A engines, would allow operators to incorporate a design change to the combustion chamber liner assembly, which would terminate the current maximum operating altitude of 30,000 ft. and restore the original certificated maximum operating altitude of 41,000 ft. FAA estimates that this proposal would affect 259 airplanes on the U.S.
Cessna Aircraft introduced a virtually all-new jet, the Citation Latitude, at last week’s National Business Aviation Association convention. In doing so, the Wichita firm challenged competitors hoping to supplant its leadership in the less-than-heavy-iron market. It’s the second new model to be announced by the firm in just two weeks. Cessna unveiled the Citation M2, an evolutionary successor to the CJ1+, in late September.
